I cannot imagine losing the love of my life!  That’s what Mike Gallagher is suffering through right now.  His precious wife, Denise, lost her battle with cancer today, Sunday June 29th.  Tomorrow would have been her 52nd birthday.  Far too young…but, what a life she packed into those years! More in her short time here than many of us in a lifetime!    

Mike dropped me an email last week I will never forget…something like…” I never knew that a broken heart felt so much like a broken heart”…he was hurting, but not broken!  He put on the face of strength that only comes from his Maker.  He sat with her and watched her suffer wishing to take the pain from her onto himself.  He sought all means to keep her here with him…treatment, a number of doctors, everything humanly possible.  Mike stayed with her in laughter and tears and was her strength as hers was failing.  Mike did as Denise wanted him to do and tried to put some “normal” into his life by returning to the show of which she was so proud!  But life is not going to be “normal” for a long time! 

There will be a lot of lonely days ahead for him, so keep him in your prayers…keep the sons and family members in your prayers and keep the ones you love as close to you as possible so they will know as did Denise, that they are loved! 

While I did not know Denise as well as I wish I could have, I know the man who loved her very well ..and I know that she changed his whole life…as he changed hers. 

We should all be so blessed,

Lisa    

It was certainly shocking to hear that NBC’s Tim Russet passed away at the age of 58 last week.  I am so sorry for the family, co-workers, friends and those who truly knew and loved him.  What a loss!  Okay, enough said! Right?

Quite frankly, and not intending to come across as rude, I find the network’s self-indulgence a bit sickening.  Listen, take it from someone who knows, loss of a loved one is NEVER easy!  BUT…have we not seen a bit of over-kill when it comes to the national coverage of his demise.

On the “TODAY SHOW,”  they spoke to Russert’s son, Luke.  Nice!  But, was his daddy’s life more valued than the life of an American Marine killed serving his country?  Why not interview their kid?  Just because we saw Russert on TV and he had some notoriety, is his life more painful than the loss of a dad who’s life was taken at the hands of a drunk driver! Try telling that father’s loved ones why he’s not due the same sort of respect. 

All life is precious!  Russert wasn’t a pope, a president, a member of the royalty…he was like the rest of us…no more, no less…a beloved father, good husband, hard workers and proud American! 

He was excellent at his job, so are many of you on the production line.  He seemed to care about the people…so do many of you working in health care and truly savings lives! 

But, come on, 1 reporter said.: “His was the most noteworthy and untimely ‘public’ death in the past 20 years.”

Really? To me it seemed the coverage was designed to elevate one of their own to sainthood.

I have attended a couple of high school graduations this year and have been shocked by one of them in particular! It’s no wonder the kids don’t behave in class and that discipline is such a problem…the parents are at the root of the students misbehavior! You adults acted even more idiotic than are the kids! As parents we are to establish the boundries, the rules that are to be followed and the respect that is certainly due during this time.

As we all know, if you’ve attended the graduation ceremonies through the years, we are asked to hold the applause and be respectful of the occasion. You can hoop and holler all you want to at the end of the diplomas being handed out…but, are asked kindly not to clap, cheer, etc. as their individual names are called! So, to heck with the rules! This is the example you have set.

You showed your true colors…acting like a bunch of ill-mannered heathens! What an embarrassment for you and the grads. Is there no shame? Not only did I hear the wild yells, rambunctious applause as your kid was announced, but yes…bullhorns. Are y’all out of your mind? Is this the first person in your family to graduate from high school.

As Momma used to say, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!” And some of these trees are rotten to the root! Shame on you for not being able to sit and then celebrate at the conclusion. Your behavior extended the ceremony and caused us to have to be there to witness your ignorance much longer than necessary as a result of your stupidity!

Get a life for heavens sakes!

Lisa

P.S.  Check out the article I found!

7 arrested for cheering during S.C. graduation

When school officials in Rock Hill tell commencement crowds to hold all applause until the end of the ceremony, they’re not joking.

Seven people were arrested Saturday by Rock Hill police and charged with public disorderly conduct after being accused of cheering during graduations. Six were at Fort Mill High School.

Police began patrolling graduations several years ago, Rock Hill police spokesman Lt. Jerry Waldrop said. He said district officials requested the patrols to end disruptions, including standing, yelling and clapping.